REAL ESTATE

New York City -- Brixmor Property Group said Wednesday it has appointed Thomas W. Litzler as senior VP, central region.

Based in Chicago, Litzler will serve as the asset manager for the region, directing leasing, property operations and redevelopment activity for 11.7 million sq. ft. of community and neighborhood shopping centers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Naperville, Ill. -- Brixmor Property Group announced two retailers will join Westridge Court, located in Naperville, Ill.

A 4,466-sq.-ft. Dots recently opened at Westridge Court.  And a 4,000-sq.-ft. lease has been executed with Gymboree Play and Music. 

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Westridge Court.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has 86 new restaurants slated for development in the Washington, D.C., market by 2020. The company said 15 development agreements were signed over the past year that will deliver 64 new restaurants, in addition to 22 restaurants that were previously contracted.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us said Wednesday it will make its debut in Poland at the end of November, opening a store in Warsaw.

The company, which currently operates 300+ stores in Europe, said it will add several additional locations in major cities throughout Poland in 2012.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Books-A-Million (BAM), which has been taking over the leases of former Borders locations, will transform 41 of the sites into BAM stores in early November. Most the locations, which are across the nation, represent new markets for the bookseller.

New York City -- Starbucks Coffee Co. celebrated the opening of its 500th location in China. The store is located at the international departure hall of the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3.

“The opening of our 500th store in China is a significant milestone in our ambitious growth plans to serve our customers through 1,500 stores by 2015,” said Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks China.
 

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it is opening five stores this week.

The retailer will be opening stores at Fort Smith Pavilion, Fort Smith, Ark.; Springbrook Prairie Pavilion, Naperville, Ill.; Indian Mound Mall, Heath, Ohio; The Shops at Stonewall, Gainesville, Va.; and Lisbon Landing, Lisbon, Conn.

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. announced plans to open a store in Prague, marking the luxury retailer’s first location in Eastern Europe. The 2,600-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in the summer of 2012.

“The opening of our first store in Eastern Europe marks a significant strategic move for Tiffany, as we further develop and grow our business throughout Europe,” said Melvyn Kirtley, group VP Europe.